Member Voices

Gary Krahn, head of school at La Jolla Country Day School (CA), joins us to discuss how to develop developing student media literacy, the importance of treating everyone with dignity, and how educators can encourage students’ ways of thinking.

Joe Powers, head of school at The Woods Academy (MD), discusses how elementary school leaders can innovate, the future of elementary school leadership, and how he stays in the moment.

Mary Ellen tells us about how she developed Maryvale’s leadership program, what it looks like today, and why her work with young women is so important.

In this episode of Member Voices: The Conversation, we are featuring a dialogue between colleagues at NAIS member schools, published in the Summer issue of Independent School magazine.

Casey Hitchcock and Johnathan Harris, co-heads of school at Lynnhaven School (VA), discuss how they landed on this leadership model, the benefits of two heads, and what makes it work for them.

Innovation is vital to school transformation. Member Voices is taking a closer look at innovation in a three-part miniseries.

In the final episode of “Fostering Innovation,” NAIS Director of Innovation Programs Jackie Wolking speaks with Kevin Costa, director of innovation and learning at McDonogh School (MD). Kevin describes his school's innovation rubric, the importance of calling out what's already there, and the biggest barriers to introducing new ideas.

Innovation is vital to school transformation. Member Voices is taking a closer look at innovation in a three-part miniseries.

In the second episode of “Fostering Innovation,” NAIS Director of Innovation Programs Jackie Wolking speaks with Liz Walgamuth, head of school at Grace School (TX). Liz shares how she redesigns space within the confines of an older school building, how “mistakes lead us to the next thing,” and why sometimes innovation work is “just about moving forward.”

Innovation is vital to school transformation. Member Voices is taking a closer look at the work of fostering innovation in a three-part miniseries.

In the first episode of “Fostering Innovation,” NAIS Director of Innovation Programs Jackie Wolking speaks with Greg Chalfin, head of middle school at Stanley British Primary School (CO). Greg describes the school’s new block model approach, the importance of relational learning, and why he likes asking why not?

Listen to an episode from our sister NAIS podcast, featuring bestselling author, speaker, and former Dean at Stanford, Julie Lythcott-Haims.

Julie joins NAIS Chief Innovation Officer Tim Fish and author and futurist Lisa Kay Solomon to share her insights on the role of schools in creating capable, responsible adults -- not just high-stat students who achieve academically but struggle to "adult" beyond the classroom.

Diverse and inclusive communities benefit everyone. In the third and final episode of the Member Voices miniseries “Cultivating Diverse and Inclusive Communities,” we talk with Luthern Williams, head of New Roads School (CA). Luthern shares how he strives to be a servant leader, his vision for well-being as the foundation of education, and how we all should promote the linkages and honor the differences.

Diverse and inclusive communities benefit everyone. Member Voices is taking a closer look at the work of cultivating diverse and inclusive communities in a three-part miniseries.

In the second episode of “Cultivating Diverse and Inclusive Communities,” we talk with Noni Thomas Lopez, head of the Gordon School (RI). She talks with us about how becoming a more diverse and inclusive school is like peeling an onion, the importance of finding opportunity in discomfort, and why battling misinformation keeps her up at night.